Brighton entrepreneur wins award for her truthpaste business

Photo by Ian Jones for The Prince’s Trust

A Brighton entrepreneur has won award for her home made alternative toothpaste business, aka truthpaste.

Marisa Battrick decided to make her own toothpaste when she started to get toothache, and a trip to the dentist didn’t stop it.

She researched alternative ways to manage the pain, and made her own toothpaste with essential oils and other natural remedies.

Although the recipe is top secret, it doesn’t include foaming agents, colourants, bleaching agents or preservatives which can be a problem for those with sensitive teeth.

Now, she’s won the Prince’s Trust London and South East NatWest Enterprise award for taking the recipe she formulated in her kitchen and turning it into a business.

Speaking at the awards last week, Marisa said: “The Prince’s Trust and my mentor have been so helpful with setting up my business, and I am amazed that my idea that came from my toothache has turned into a successful business.

“Truthpaste is going from strength to strength which is exciting.”

Before finding out about The Prince’s Trust, Marisa had just finished education and was looking for work. While at a Job Centre appointment, the advisor recommended Marisa to turn her business idea into a reality, and she was referred to The Prince’s Trust, where she joined the Explore Enterprise Course.

Truthpaste, her new toothpaste business, had its first sale on New Year’s Day, 2016. That customer is now a regular wholesale customer, loyal to Marisa’s brand and unique toothpaste.

With the release of the Blue Planet 2 programme, customers were attracted to Marisa’s product as it was environmentally friendly and packed in a recyclable glass jar.

Her sales quadrupled almost overnight and it appeared on the BBC, in The Guardian, in books and magazines.

Marisa was able to take on an employee and distributes to almost 100 UK stores as well as overseas to Australia, Spain, Iceland and Belgium.

Sharniya Ferdinand, Business Inclusion Manager at NatWest said: “Congratulations to Marisa on winning the Enterprise award. She has shown how it is possible to transform a great idea into a sustainable business.”